NetGalley is one of the largest digital ARC distribution sites in the industry. A huge advantage of listing your title on NetGalley’s platform is access to people you might not otherwise reach, from reviewers for major publications like USA Today and Publishers Weekly to librarians and booksellers looking for new titles to purchase.
I’ve been running a NetGalley co-op for over a decade, and mine is the longest-running co-op on NetGalley. Below is some basic information about what NetGalley is and how my co-op works. If you have additional questions not covered below or you’d like to join the co-op, please drop me an email.
Did you know… The co-op is available to all authors, publishers, and PR firms. You don’t have to be an editing client, though if you’re interested in editing, I’d love to hear from you.
Some quick links with more info / reflections on being in a co-op:
Victory Editing’s NetGalley Catalog
NetGalley for Indie Authors – Part One (Susan Kaye Quinn)
NetGalley for Indie Authors – Part Deux, One Year Later (Susan Kaye Quinn)
Sara A. Noë’s thoughts and experience with the co-op
Pricing
- $75.00 / month for e-book slots
- $80.00 / month for audiobook slots
- $155.00 / month for e-book / audiobook package
- Please allow at least one week between signing up and the date you’d like your title to go live. Your title will be uploaded after payment has been received and we’ve received all required listing information.
- Optional NetGalley promotions (such as category spotlights, newsletters, and other featured placements) are available throughout the year, subject to NetGalley’s availability and approval. These promotional opportunities are offered by NetGalley. Victory Editing coordinates scheduling and payment.
This is for you if…
✓ You understand that NetGalley is a marketing platform and have a plan for how you’d like to use it.
✓ You’re willing to manage your own NetGalley listing, including reviewing and responding to reader requests.
✓ You’re comfortable using a web-based platform.
This may not be the best fit if…
✘ You’re looking for guaranteed reviews or guaranteed sales.
✘ You’re unsure how you’d like to use NetGalley or how it fits into your marketing strategy.
✘ You’d prefer someone else to manage your NetGalley listing.
✘ You’re uncomfortable using web-based tools.
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General Questions:
Q What is NetGalley?
A: In a nutshell, NetGalley is a website for publishers and authors to distribute digital advance reading copies (ARCs) to a wide variety of influential readers.
Q What kinds of readers use NetGalley? Is it only reviewers?
A: NetGalley’s members include reviewers, media professionals, educators, librarians, and booksellers. For the purposes of this FAQ, I’ll refer to them as members unless I specifically mean reviewers.
Q Are the reviews paid?
A: Reviews are not paid for on NetGalley. We’re paying to have titles listed and distributed to NetGalley members. These members choose titles based on their own needs and interests. Members gain access to a vast catalog of ARCs and only request the ones they want. We grant access to our books in exchange for valuable feedback and reviews.
Q Who will have access to my title?
A: Members request access to titles based on their interests. You can then approve or decline those requests based on your marketing strategy for that title. You should look closely at a NetGalley member’s profile when they make a request to determine whether to grant them access based on your own criteria.
Q Do reviewers have to cross-post reviews to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, their blog, etc.?
A: Members aren’t required to cross-post their reviews, but many reviewers do. If a reviewer is active on consumer websites, it builds their own audience and improves the likelihood that they will be approved to read more titles that they request. Reviewers know that publishers and authors value reviews on multiple platforms and that building an audience means posting on multiple bookish platforms. That being said, many NetGalley members are requesting and reading titles to make purchasing decisions for a library, school, or bookstore. Those members might not leave reviews that they cross-post to consumer websites, although they can still provide valuable feedback about your title.
Q Should I keep submitting to blogs and posting to Goodreads, etc. if I am also listing my title on NetGalley?
A: If you’re seeing success by posting to Goodreads and submitting to blogs, then by all means carry on! But more and more indies are noting that it’s becoming more difficult to get reviews, especially on popular blogs, and ad money is also not going as far as it once did. With NetGalley, reviewers come to us rather than the other way around. It changes the power dynamic to have reviewers come to us asking for access to titles.
Q Will my book be reviewed on NetGalley?
A: Putting your book on NetGalley does not guarantee reviews. Instead, NetGalley is set up like a library or bookseller catalog. Members can browse by genre or publisher or search for titles directly. Great cover images and captivating descriptions will improve your chances of getting your book requested and reviewed. Certain genres fare better on NetGalley than others, following overall market trends. In my experience, Romance and YA tend to perform well on NetGalley, while Mystery, Thriller, and Fantasy geared toward male audiences haven’t seen as much activity.
Q What if I get a critical review?
A: Critical reviews are always a possibility. No one book is going to please every reader. The best thing you can do is make sure your book is as strong as possible. You can also cut down on the chance of a critical review by managing your requests carefully. Look at the profiles of members requesting access to see if they will be an influential reader for your title. For example, did you notice they don’t like cliffhangers, which your book features? Consider declining their request. There’s nothing wrong with trying to match your book to your audience.
Q Does listing my title on NetGalley affect my copyright?
A: No. Neither NetGalley nor I have any claim to the copyright on your book aside from the fact that you are granting permission as the copyright holder to list your title in the NetGalley catalog. You still retain your copyright and can pull your title at any time.
Pricing & Stuff:
Q How much does a NetGalley slot cost?
A: Please see above for the most current pricing options.
Q Why do NetGalley co-op prices vary?
A: Co-ops vary quite a bit in both pricing and the services they provide. My pricing includes title setup, onboarding, customer support, payment processing, contract administration, coordination with NetGalley, and the ability for authors to manage their own NetGalley listings and reader requests—a feature many co-ops don’t offer.
If another co-op is a better fit for your needs, I completely understand. My goal is simply to provide a well-supported, affordable option for authors who want direct control over their NetGalley experience.
Q How do I pay for my slot?
A: We have a self-checkout system. After signing up, you’ll receive a welcome packet with a link to purchase your slot and instructions for submitting your title.
Q Can I get a refund?
A: Yes—as long as your title hasn’t been uploaded to NetGalley. Once your title has been listed, refunds are generally not available because the service has already been provided. If an unforeseen circumstance arises, please get in touch with me. I’m happy to review the situation on a case-by-case basis.
More Stuff:
Q Can I do multiple titles throughout the year?
A: Absolutely! Many authors list multiple titles throughout the year. I generally recommend leaving each title on NetGalley for about a month to give members time to request, read, and review it before moving on to your next title.
Q How do I format my ARC?
A: NetGalley accepts PDFs and EPUBs for upload to the NetGalley catalog. Audiobook review copies should be provided in the format required by NetGalley at the time of upload.
Your ARC does not need to be the final published version. In fact, it’s common to include an ARC notice such as:
“This is an advance reading copy. It is not for resale, and changes may be made before publication.”
I recommend uploading an edited manuscript. It doesn’t have to be perfectly proofread, but it should represent the best reading experience you can provide.
Q Can we put up older titles or titles that have already been published?
A: You can absolutely list backlist or already-published titles on NetGalley. Even if you are listing a newly published title on NetGalley rather than an ARC, you are still listing a new release! You can also consider putting backlist titles or the first in a series on NetGalley to build buzz for a new installment or new title. Use NetGalley creatively as part of your marketing plan!
Q What information will I need?
A: Most of the info you need is standard: Title, Series Name, Author Name, Publisher, Publication Date, Retail Price, Edition Type, etc. The one thing you absolutely need is a unique, 13-digit number. If you have an ISBN, that’s perfect.
Q Do I have to have an ISBN?
A: No. You can come up with a 13-digit number on your own if you so choose. There are random number generators available on the Internet. The number just has to be unique to NetGalley. NOTE: If you do not use an ISBN, some of NetGalley’s features that rely on this unique identifier will be disabled, specifically retailer links to your title.
Q How will my title be listed on NetGalley?
A: All titles in the co-op are listed under Victory Editing if you browse by publisher in the NetGalley catalog. You can still list your publisher on the Title Details page for your book.
Q Who will maintain my title on NetGalley?
A: Every author has complete control over their own title. Each author will manage requests, widgets, and follow-ups with NetGalley members. This way each author can better control who accesses their title and is able to find the most influential readers for their specific marketing goals. I think you know your book best and should be in control of its presence on NetGalley.
Q Can I have a Member account as well as access to the co-op Publisher account?
A: Yes! In fact, I encourage you to do so. Having a member account lets you see how NetGalley works from a member perspective, including troubleshooting common issues that members run into when accessing a title.
Have other questions? Feel free to drop me an email!